Atomfall, the British survival game developed by Rebellion, has proven to be a resounding success, achieving immediate profitability upon its release on March 27, 2025. Despite a significant portion of its 2 million players accessing the game through Xbox Game Pass, thus not purchasing it directly, Atomfall has managed to recoup its development costs swiftly.

The game, available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, has marked Rebellion's largest launch to date in terms of player numbers. The inclusion in Xbox Game Pass has undoubtedly played a pivotal role in this achievement, allowing a broader audience to experience the post-apocalyptic northern England simulator without upfront costs.

In discussions with The Game Business, Rebellion expressed that Atomfall's success has led to considerations for future projects, including potential sequels or spin-offs, while maintaining a focus on the game's ongoing post-launch support and additional downloadable content (DLC).

Rebellion's CEO, Jason Kingsley, highlighted the strategic advantage of launching on Game Pass in a previous interview with GamesIndustry.biz. He emphasized that the service helps mitigate sales risks by ensuring a guaranteed income from Microsoft, regardless of direct sales performance. Furthermore, Game Pass's wide reach aids in marketing the game to a larger audience, fostering positive word-of-mouth that can drive additional sales.

Kingsley explained the ripple effect of Game Pass: "With Game Pass, you can get people to try it, then as a result of those people trying it, they like it, and they then tell their mates on social media, 'I found this game on Game Pass, I really enjoyed it, you should have a go.' And then some of them are on Game Pass, and will [play] it. But some of them aren't on Game Pass, and will also want to be part of that conversation. So, they'll go and buy it."

While the exact financial details of Atomfall's performance and Microsoft's agreements with developers remain confidential, it's clear that both parties benefit from the increased player engagement and potential for further sales.

As of February 2024, Xbox Game Pass boasted 34 million subscribers, showcasing the platform's substantial user base. IGN's review of Atomfall praised the game, noting it as a "gripping survival-action adventure that takes some of the best elements of Fallout and Elden Ring, and synthesizes them into its own fresh mutation."

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